KC Big 3

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December 11, 2013

CHARACTER EDUCATION AT KIOWA COUNTY ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH

In 2012-13, with input from 30 students ranging in age from 5th - 8th grade, Kiowa County Elementary and Jr. High Schools began a character education program. The building eventually adopted Core Essentials materials for use in 2013-14. The materials are divided into age levels:

Seedlings is their preschool program;

Core is their K-5 program; and,

Re:Connect is their middle school program.

All three programs are aligned so that all students learn about the same aspects of character at the same time--with activities and lessons that are appropriate for their age and interests. This curriculum promotes three core values that we call the KC Big 3.

The KC Big 3:

1. Treat Others Right

2. Make Smart Decisions

3. Maximize Your Potential

In addition to the KC Big 3, students also learn and practice a monthly value called theBIG IDEA. The Big Ideas for the 2015-16 school year are as follows:

August: Wisdom—finding out what you should do and doing it.

September: Initiative—seeing what needs to be done and doing it.

October: Individuality—discovering who you are so you can make a difference.

November: Service—lending a hand to help someone else.

December: Compassion—caring enough to do something about someone else’s need.

January: Self-Control—choosing to do what you SHOULD do, not what you WANT to do.

February: Cooperation—working together to do more than you can do alone.

March: Hope—believing something good can come out of something bad.

April: Friendship—spending time with someone you trust and enjoy.

May: Contentment—deciding to be happy with what you’ve got.

Family involvement is crucial to students developing positive character. When students bring home a monthly letter, be sure to take time to look at it with them and discuss the concepts in the letter. Those papers can be returned to enter your child into a prize drawing at their monthly character assemblies. KC Schools, together with KC families, are proud to be focusing on character development in our school!